Switch



H.v J. LINGAL Jan. 5, 1943.

SWITCH Filed July 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Em 2 w m N E v m PatentedJan. 5, 1943 SWITCH Harry J. Lingal, Forest Hills, Pa., assignor toWestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application July 27, 1939, Serial No.286,830

13 Claims.

My invention relates to electric switches, and more particularly to amulti-polar rotary switch which may be either manually or mechanicallyactuated.

For controlling the opening and closing movements of circuit breakersand for controlling electro-responsive devices often associated withcircuit breakers there are provided auxiliary switches actuated inresponse to operation of the circuit breaker. Since such switches areassociated with various types of circuit breakers requiring differentsequence and/or timing of operations, and since it is often highlydesirable to vary the sequence or timing of such operations of any givencircuit breaker, it is essential that the auxiliary switches haverelatively adjustable contacts. The same type of switch is also oftenemployed as a metering switch to connect any desired type of meter to aplurality of different circuits. Here too, relatively adjustable switchcontacts are highly desirable.

Switches of this type have been employed heretofore but have beenlimited to switches having contacts relatively adjustable only by fixedincrements and having certain other undesirable structural features.

Hence, it is an object of my invention to provide a simplifiedmulti-polar switch having contacts which are relatively adjustable byany desired increments.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a multi-polar switchhaving relatively adjustable contacts, the position of any one of whichmay be adjusted without afiecting the adjustment of any of the othercontacts.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a multi-polar switchhaving relatively adjustable contacts, and which is of a rugged andeconomical construction, and wherein the adjustment of the contacts maybe conveniently accomplished by a relatively simple operation withoutnecessitating the use of any special tools.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a multi-polarswitch having novel means for securing the movable contacts to theiroperating member.

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent uponconsideration of the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment 01 my invention showing theinterior of a switch housing with the top wall shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch rotor shown inFig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the line VV of Fig. 2,

Figs. 6 and 7 are side views of switch contacts for use with a deviceshown in Fig. 1, but disclosing modified forms of securing means for thecontacts, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are side elevational views of insulating spacer membersfor use in a switch like that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, also showingmodified forms of insulator securing means.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, I havedisclosed a switch housing which includes the end walls 2 and 4 havingoutwardly extending flanges 6 and 8, respectively, at their lower endsfor supporting the housing on any desired support. The upper ends of theend walls 2 and 4 are bent inwardly to form the top supports l0 and I2,respectively, for supporting the housing top wall M which is secured inposition, as for example, by the bolts I6. Corner supporting members I8are provided at each corner of the housing intermediate the top andbottom thereof, and are suitably secured to the end walls 2 and 4 in anydesired manner, such, for example, as by welding. These corner supportshave inwardly extending flanges which serve to support a bottom wall 24,secured to the lower flanges as by machine screws 26, and have upperflanges supporting an intermediate insulating wall 20. Side walls 28 areformed integral with the top wall l4 and have their lower edges receivedin flanges 30 provided on the bottom wall 24.

The wall 20 and the outer housing walls are formed of any desiredinsulating material, pref erably some molded insulating material.Terminals 22 are supported on the intermediate wall 20 and areexternally screw threaded to receive the nuts 34 between which a switchlead may be clamped. One of the end walls 2 is provided with an opening32 through which leads may be extended into the housing to the switchterminals. The switch terminals include conducting portions extendingthrough the intermediate insulating wall 20 and connected to movablecontact arms 36 which terminate in contact portions 42. The contact armsare urged inwardly towards each other by springs 38 reacting betweeneach arm and an adjacent rigid arm 40.

A switch rotor M, is provided with contact elements 54 to bridge thecontact portions 42. As shown in Fig. 2, the switch rotor includes anoperating shaft which is square in cross-section, as shown in Figs. 4:and 5. On the shaft 46 is mounted an insulating sleeve 33, likewisesquare in cross-section. At the right-hand end of the shaft, as viewedin Fig. 2, over the sleeve 48, there is provided a bearing sleeve 56,which is pinned to the shaft by pin 52 extending through the sleeves 59and 3B, and shaft 46. The bearing sleeve 55! is provided with a flangeportion 62. Rotatably mounted on the insulating sleeve 48 are thecontact members 6 made of any desired conducting material, preferablycopper or the like. Each contact includes a central annular portion 66rotatable on the insulating sleeve 48, and opposite outwardly extendingenlarged contact portions 68. Between the contact members, and betweenthe contact members and th bearing sleeve 58, are mounted insulatingspacer members 72 preferablyof a molded insulating material. Thesemembers have a central aperture which is square in cross-section toconform to the cross-section of the insulating sleeve 48 and shaft is,to key the insulating spacing-members for movement with the shaft 46.Each insulating member 72 includes a substantially cylindrical innerportion i l and a central outwardly extending flange portion 13.

The adjacent confronting sides of the'contact members and insulatingspacing members 12 are formed with depressions. As shown in Fig. 4, thecontact members are formed with opposed groooves it. Each insulatormember, as shown in Fig. 5, is likewise formed with grooves 16. Anydesired number of these grooves may be formed in the confrontin faces ofthe insulating members and contact members. As shown, the contactmembers are provided with two opposed grooves, and the insulatingmembers are provided with four equally spaced radial grooves. Betweenthe confronting faces of the contact members and insulating spacingmembers 12 are provided deformable washers 73 preferably or resilientmaterial, such for example, as rubber, for a purpose hereinafter to bedescribed.

On the left-hand end of the shaft 46, as viewed in Fig. 2, there isslidably mounted a bearing member 58, having a flange portion 53 adaptedto be rotatably received in an end wall of the switch housing with theflange portion 55 engaging the inner side of the wall. The adjacent endof the shaft 55 is externally screw threaded at 58 and provided with awasher til engaging the bearing sleeve and a nut tit for clamping theparts on the shaft against the other end bearing sleeve 50.

It is obvious that as the nut 53 is drawn up on the shaft 36, the rubberwashers 18 between the contact members Ed and insulating spacer members72, will be compressed and deformed, so that portions of the rubberwill, in effect, flow into the grooves it provided in the contactmembers, and grooves it provided in the insulating spacing members it;these portions will then form, in effect, a keyed connection between theinsulating spacing members 12 and the contact members 64 to secure thecontact members for movement with the shaft 46.

It should be noted that the contact members are secured to theinsulating members by the rubber washers irrespective of the relativepositions of the grooves on the contact members and the insulatingspacing members. It will also be sition by merely tightenin nut 56.

apparent that any one contact member may be adjusted relative to theother contact member without disturbing the relative position of theother contact member by merely loosening nut 56 slightly, whereupon therubber washers being resilient, the portions thereof which had beenreceived in the grooves 16 and 16 return to their normal position, andthe contact it is desired to adjust may be moved to any desired positionrelative to the shaft 45 and secured in that po- The other contactcannot be disturbed by movement of the contact adjusted, because it isengaged on opposite sides thereof with insulating members i2 which areimmovable with respect to shaft 36.

The rotor shaft 45 is provided at the righthand end thereof, as viewedin Figs. 1 and 2, with an operating member 35 suitably secured to theend of the shaft, and the operating member is provided with a pintleportion 88 to pivotally receive an operatinglink, not shown, which maybe actuated by circuit breaker mechanism or any other desired operatingmeans. Obviously, if desired, the operating member may be removed and amanually operable handle substituted therefor, and secured to the rotorshaft 49 where manual operation is desired.

The adjacent confronting faces of contact member 6 3 and insulatingmembers 12 may have depressions formed therein of any desired type. InFig. 6, I have shown a contact member having a plurality of circulardepressions 89 evenly spaced about the side of the contact member andspaced from the edges of said side. In Fig. 8, I have shown aninsulating spacing member having similar circular depressions 8 2-. InFig. '7, I have shown a contact member having a serrated side surface82, and in Fig. 9, I have shown an insulating spacer member having aserrated side surface 81.

It is immaterial exactly what form the depressions in the confrontingfaces of the contact members and insulating spacer members take. In anyevent the rubber washers between the confronting faces will serve, whenpressure is applied longitudinally of the rotor shaft E6 to enter suchdepressions to secure the contact members to the insulating spacermembers and operating shaft it. The contact members may be secured inany desired position relative to the operating shaft 46 or relative toeach other, there being no fixed increment of adjustment.

It is also obvious that any one contact may be adjusted relative to theother contact by any desired increment either infinitely small orinfinite y large without effecting the adjusting of the other contactrelative to the shaft. It is also apparent that a connection between thecontact members and shaft 56 is formed by mere compression of the partsmounted on the shafts longitudinally thereof. The rubber washers "i8.which-form the connections between the contact members and insulatingspacer members in reality form keyed connections therebetween inresponse to pressure applied longitudinally of the shaft to the contactsand spacers.

It is obvious that the contacts and spacers shown in Figs. 5 to 9 may beused interchangeably with those shown in Figs. '1 to 5 or with eachother. In other words, the confronting faces of the contact members andinsulating spacer members need not have the same type of depressionstherein. It is essential only that they have some type of depressioninto which portions of the rubber washer members 78 may flow when theassembly is compressed. Similarly, only one of the confronting surfacesneed be provided with depressions in the event that the washers aresecured to the other confronting surface.

Having described preferred embodiments of my invention in accordancewith the patent statutes, I do not desire my invention to be limitedthereto. On the other hand I desire that my invention be interpreted asbroadly as possible, inasmuch as it will be obvious, particularly topersons skilled in the art, that many changes and modifications may bemade in the particular embodiments disclosed without departing from thebroad scope and spirit of my invention. For example, I do not wish to belimited to a two-pole switch, as illustrated, since it will be obviousthat any desired number of poles may be added to the structure disclosedherein, merely by lengthening the rotor shaft and applying alternateduplicate contact members and insulating spacer members withintermediate rubber washers between the bearing sleeves 50 and 54.Therefore, I desire that the broadest possible construction be given tothe appended claims, and that they be not limited except to what isexpressly stated therein.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a switch, a movable contact support, a contact member movablymounted on the support, a driving part mounted on and movable with thesupport, said part and member including adjacent confronting surfaceshaving portions at different elevations, deformable means between saidsurfaces, and means to removably secure said part and member togetherunder pressure to cause portions of said deformable means to enter saidportions of lesser elevation to lock the contact member to the support.

2. In a switch, a movable contact support, a contact member movablymounted on the support, a driving part mounted on said support on eachside of said contact member, said parts being mounted to move with saidsupport, said member and parts including adjacent confronting surfaceshaving depressed portions, deformable means between each part and themember, and means to removably secure said parts together under pressureto cause portions of said deformable means to enter said depressedportions to lock the contact member to the support.

3. In a switch, a movable support, a contact member movably mounted onthe support, a driving part mounted on and movable with the support,said part and member including adjacent facing grooved surfaces,deformable means between said surfaces, and means to removably securesaid part and member together under pressure to cause portions of saiddeformable means to enter said grooves to lock the contact member to thesupport.

4. In a switch, a movable support, a contact member movably mounted onthe support, a driving part mounted on and movable with the support,said part and member including adjacent opposed serrated surfaces,deformable means between said surfaces, and means to removably securesaid part and member together under pressure to cause portions of saiddeformable means to enter the depressed portions of said serratedsurfaces to lock the contact member to the support.

5. In a switch, a movable support, a contact member movably mounted onthe support, a driving part mounted on and movable with the support,said part and member including adjacent opposed surfaces having aplurality of spaced depressions therein, deformable means between saidsurfaces, and means to removably secure said part and member togetherunder pressure to cause portions of said deformable means to enter saiddepressed portions to lock the contact member to the support.

6. In a switch, a movable support, an insulating cover for said support,a plurality of contacts movably mounted thereon, a driving part ofinsulating material for each contact mounted on the support for movementtherewith, each driving part and its associated contact member includingadjacent surfaces having portions at different elevations, deformablemeans between each driving part and its associated contact member, meansto releasably compress said contact and driving parts to cause portionsof said deformable means to enter said portions of lesser elevation tolock the contact members to the support, and said driving partseffective to insulate said contacts from each other and said compressingmeans.

7. In a switch, a movable support, a plurality of contacts movablymounted thereon, driving parts of insulating material mounted onopposite sides of each contact on the support for movement therewith,said parts acting to space said contacts from each other, each drivingpart and its associated contact member including adjacent surfaceshaving depressed portions, deformable means between each driving partand its associated contact member, and means to releasably compress saidcontacts and driving parts to cause portions of said deformable means toenter said depressed portions to lock the contact members to thesupport.

8. In a switch, an elongated rotatable support, a contact memberrotatably mounted thereon, a drive member mounted on said support formovement therewith, said members having adjacent roughened surfaces, andmeans positioned between said members responsive to pressure applied tomove said members together, to form a driving key between said surfaces.

9. In a switch, an elongated rotatable support having an insulatingcovering, a plurality of contact members rotatably mounted thereon, aplurality of insulating spacer members slidably and non-rotatablymounted on said support with a spacer member on each side of eachcontact member, confronting faces of said members having roughenedportions, and means between said faces responsive to pressure applied tothe members longitudinally of the support to lock said faces together.

10. In a switch, a movable contact support, a contact member movablymounted on the support, a driving part mounted on and movable with thesupport, said part and member including adjacent surfaces havingportions at different elevations flexible and resilient rubber washersbetween said surfaces, and means to removably secure said part andmember together under pressure to cause portions of said washers toenter said portions of lesser elevation to lock the contact member tothe support.

11. In a switch, an elongated rotatable support, a contact memberrotatably mounted thereon, a drive member mounted on the shaft formovement therewith, said members having adjacent roughened surfaces,washers of resilient deformable material between said surfaces to form adriving connection between said surfaces in response to pressure appliedto move said members together.

12. In a switch, an actuating shaft, a contact member rotatably mountedon said shaft, a driving member slidably but non-rotatably mounted onsaid shaft, said members having adjacent confronting plane surfaces atleast one of which has depressed portions thereon, resilient deformablemeans positioned on said shaft between said members, and means on saidshaft for securing said members together under pressure to deform saiddeformable means and cause portions thereof to 13. In a switch, anactuating shaft, a contact member rotatably mounted on said shaft, saidmember having a plane side surface with depressions therein, means fordrivingly connecting said shaft and member including a resilientdeformable member engageable with said surface, and means on said shaftfor exerting sufficient pressure on said members to cause portions osaid deformable means to flow into said depresenter said depressedportions to lock said de- 10 sions to releasably lock said memberstogether.

formable means to at least said one member.

HARRY J. LINGAL.

